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Savage, C. R. (Charles Roscoe), 1832-1909

 Person

Biographical History

C. R. Savage (1832-1909) was a photographer of the American West in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Charles Roscoe Savage, born August 16, 1832, in England, became one of the foremost 19th century landscape photographers of the western United States, as well as a renowned studio portrait photographer, with his studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. The idea to emigrate from England to Utah undoubtedly began shortly after his 1848 baptism and membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Savage's immigration in 1856 to New York marked the beginning of his known interest in establishing a photography business. On assignment from the Church he traveled to Florence, Nebraska. His family subsequently joined him in 1860 and Savage established a primitive studio in Council Bluffs, Nebraska. Finally, the family made their way across the country arriving in Salt Lake City on August 29, 1860. The next day he made business arrangements with Marsena Cannon, a daguerreotype photographer and owner of a studio on East Temple. In 1862, with Cannon's departure to St. George, Utah, Savage formed a partnership with George Martin Ottinger. Savage & Ottinger legally dissolved their firm in 1870, and that same year Savage formed the Pioneer Art Gallery, and in 1875, needing more space, he replaced it with the Art Bazaar.

On June 26, 1883, his Art Bazaar burned to the ground, with all of his negatives. After his death on February 3, 1909, another fire in 1911 destroyed all of the negatives from the last twenty-five years of his career. Although his sons continued to operate the business, the Art Bazaar closed its doors permanently on December 31, 1926.

Citation:
Harold B. Lee Library Website, website viewed Oct. 14, 2010: C.R. Savage Biography (born Aug. 16, 1832 in England; studio in Salt Lake City, Utah; baptized LDS Church 1848; immigrated to USA 1856; studio in Council Bluffs, Neb.; arrived in Salt Lake Aug. 29, 1860; worked with Marsena Cannon, 1860-1862; worked with Ottinger until 1870; replaced Pioneer Art Gallery with Art Bazaar, 1875; gallery burned June 26, 1883; died Feb. 3, 1909; fire in the workshop in 1911; Art Bazaar closed Dec. 31, 1926)

Bradley W. Richards, His The Savage view, 1995.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

C. R. Savage cartes-de-visite and cabinet cards, 1852-1918

 Series — Box 2: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233281101]
Identifier: MSS P 24 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains cartes-de-visite and cabinet cards produced by Savage, dating from between 1852 and 1918.

Dates: 1852-1918

Collection of portraits of early Provo residents

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 8455
Scope and Contents

Materials include 19 photographs of early residents of Provo, Utah, dating from between approximately 1850 and 1900. The photographs are individual portraits from a variety of photographic studios, including those of George Edward Anderson, C. R. Savage, Fox & Symons, and T. E. Daniels.

Dates: approximately 1850-1900

Alice Evans music box photo album

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 9044
Scope and contents

19 silver print photographs taken by photographers in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. Photographs are of Alice Hazel Stallings Evans and members of her family at different ages throughout their lives. Dated approximately 1880-1910.

Dates: approximately 1880-1910

C. R. Savage photograph of Joseph and Lottie Bird Booth

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197218623848]
Identifier: MSS 3805
Scope and Contents

Cabinet card containing the portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Lottie Bird Booth probably taken at the time of their wedding. Card contains the name Ann Liza B. on verso.

Dates: approximately 1891